“These 810 arrests in 2008 represent the most fugitives removed from the streets in a single year as part of the Project S.A.F.E. Street,” said Colonel Peter C. Munoz, Director of the MSP. “Thanks to the cooperation and dedication of law enforcement agencies statewide, this program continues to be a success.”

Project S.A.F.E. Street is a quarterly effort of the Granholm Administration aimed at improving public safety by encouraging the state’s law enforcement agencies to work together to arrest violent parole absconders. The initiative, started in 2003, is a joint effort among the Michigan State Police (MSP), the Michigan Department of Corrections (MDOC) and local and federal law enforcement to arrest violent offenders known to be in violation of parole and who pose a threat to public safety.

Of the 175 arrests during this sweep, 94 were parole violators, 26 were parole absconders and nine were probation violators. The sweep included arrests for armed robbery, aggravated assault, assault and battery, breaking and entering, criminal sexual assault, domestic violence, home invasion, homicide, larceny, and possession and delivery of cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine and marijuana.

"Project S.A.F.E. Street is a collaborative program that gets results,” said MDOC Director Patricia L. Caruso. “Our citizens are safer today because of the dedication that these criminal justice agencies display. I am proud that the Michigan Department of Corrections can share in this success.”

The MSP and MDOC organized the December sweep with assistance from the U.S. Marshals Service, 12 county sheriff’s departments, 35 local police departments and law enforcement agencies in California and Ohio .

In 2008, Project S.A.F.E. Street sweeps were also conducted March 11 - 13, resulting in 213 arrests; June 17 - 19, resulting in 242 arrests; and September 23 - 25, resulting in 180 arrests.

A total of 3,976 fugitives have been arrested since Project S.A.F.E. Street began in March 2003.

CONTACT:

Capt. Annemarie H. Gibson
Michigan State Police
(734) 525-2560

John Cordell
Michigan Department of Corrections
(517) 373-6391